Port St. Lucie 17-year-old accused of bludgeoning parents to death, then having party | Photo galleries, Video

Officer Tom Nichols, Port St. Lucie police spokesman, and Port St. Lucie police Capt. Don Kryak discuss the deaths of Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley and the arrest of their son Tyler, 17, who is accused of committing the crime.

Tom Nichols, Port St. Lucie police Public Information Officer, and Port St. Lucie police Capt. Don Kryak discuss the deaths of Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley and the arrest of their son Tyler, 17, who is accused of committing the crime.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department on Sunday conducted an investigation into what they later said were two deaths in the 300 block of Northeast Granduer Avenue.

DEBORAH SILVER/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
The Port St. Lucie Police Department conducted a death investigation in the 300 block of Granduer Avenue.

TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Mary Jo Hadley

Tyler Hadley
St. Lucie West Centennial High School 2010 yearbook photo.

DEBORAH SILVER/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Port St. Lucie Police Department crime scene investigator Joel Smith worked late into the night on Sunday as he and other law enforcement members gather information inside the house in the 300 block of Granduer Avenue in Port St. Lucie.

Blake Hadley

PORT ST. LUCIE — Tyler Hadley posted an invitation to a party on Facebook, then killed his parents with a hammer before as many as 60 people attended the gathering at his home on Granduer Avenue, according to police.

Early Sunday morning, Port St. Lucie police received an anonymous tip indicating a 17-year-old might have killed his parents and the bodies were in the home. Police went to the home about 4:20 a.m. Sunday.

There police found a hammer between the bodies of Mary Jo Hadley, 47, and 54-year-old Blake Hadley. Tyler Hadley, 17, was arrested late Sunday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

"It was a merciless killing. It was brutal and the Facebook invitation — a party to have your friends and 40 to 60 people come over — I think speaks for itself," Port St. Lucie police Capt. Don Kryak said, standing at the scene Monday. "The blunt force trauma to the head and torso with a 22-inch framing hammer can effect a considerable amount of injury."

Police believe Tyler Hadley acted alone, but officials don't know a motive. The former St. Lucie West Centennial High School student made no incriminating statements.

Kryak said the Facebook party invitation was posted about 1:15 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. Saturday — before the homicides occurred. Investigators suspect Tyler Hadley's mother was killed first, and then his father, and that the slayings happened outside the master bedroom door of the single-story home in the 300 block of Northeast Granduer Avenue.

Items including books, files and towels covered the bodies, and the hammer was found between them.

When police arrived, Tyler Hadley greeted them.

"He was nervous ... just very nervous when we arrived to do the welfare check," Kryak said. "He just said that his parents were out of town."

Blake Hadley was an employee of Florida Power & Light Co. and worked at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, according to Doug Andrews, FPL spokesman.

"Our prayers are with the Hadley family at this time," Andrews said.

Maurice Hadley of Stuart, Blake Hadley's father, said his son — who he described as a gentle giant at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and 300 pounds — was weeks away from celebrating 30 years of employment with FPL.

"He enjoyed his job," Maurice Hadley said. "He was a watch engineer."

Mark Ankrom, Blake Hadley's nephew, said, "He was a good man, a very good man." Not a mean bone in his body and I just can't believe something like this would happen."

Mary Jo Hadley worked 24 years as an elementary school teacher with the St. Lucie County School District, with her last six years being at Village Green Environmental Studies School. Maurice Hadley described her as "the best daughter-in-law you could have."

"The St. Lucie County School District family is deeply saddened at the tragic loss of one of our valued colleagues," the district said in an emailed statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family."

Kryak said an older brother of Tyler Hadley moved out a couple of months ago.

The Hadleys had attended a family reunion in Georgia earlier this month, Maurice Hadley said.

"It was a time for us to enjoy family from Indiana, Minnesota and Florida," he said. "I didn't see any indication there were any problems between Tyler and his parents. We're still in disbelief and we're still waiting to learn more."

The couple lived in their residence on Northeast Granduer Avenue for at least the past 10 years.

"I've known Mary Jo since she was in high school in Fort Lauderdale. They are a nice family. The kids are always nice. They used to come to our house trick-or-treating and they always called me Miss Charlie," said Charlene Moses, a family friend.

The relationship Tyler Hadley had with his parents and the family dynamics were unclear.

"That's certainly something we want to dive into a little bit more and get a better understanding of what actually takes place in the house," Kryak said.

Neighbor Raeann Wallace, 64, said Tyler Hadley was "always a good kid," but said she hadn't seen him for about a year.

"I used to see him getting off the bus and walking home, and a couple of times we'd go on vacation, I'd say, 'Hey Tyler, watch my house, don't let anybody bother my house,'" Wallace said. "Then all of a sudden, I just never saw him anymore."

Wallace said the Hadleys had lived next door since before Tyler Hadley was born.

Police went to the home early Sunday morning for a noise complaint, but there was no reason for police to enter the home, said Officer Tom Nichols, police spokesman. The party apparently was winding up at the time.

A guest at the party, Mike Young, told WPTV NewsChannel 5 he does not know Tyler Hadley well. "There was a good 50 people that were here (Saturday) night," he said.

Police went to the home again about 4:20 a.m. after the anonymous tip indicating a 17-year-old might have killed his parents and the bodies were in the home.

Nichols said Tyler Hadley as of Monday afternoon was at the St. Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center on Bell Avenue in Fort Pierce.

Kryak asked that anyone who attended the party call police at 772-871-5000.